17 November, 2022

Gunnedah Shire Council has finalised its 2021-22 Annual Report in a document that shows a year of both significant challenges and significant progress.

“The 12 months represented by the 2021-22 financial year has proved challenging in many respects for Gunnedah Shire Council,” the introduction by Mayor Jamie Chaffey and General Manager Eric Groth says.

“While still trying to manage many of the impacts created by COVID-19, Council has been the recipient of a large value of external grant funding and has had to manage a significant volume and value of projects in addition to providing normal services to the community.”

Cr Chaffey said challenges across the financial year had included flooding, inflation and rising costs, and national labour shortages.

“The following few years have not been business as usual across the world,” he said.

“Following drought and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments at all levels have faced increasing tasks and requirements and a diminishing return for their dollar.

“Gunnedah Shire has had very welcome stimulus funding from the State and Federal governments to assist in some of these challenges.

“Despite all of the issues we have faced, 2021-22 was a year of significant progress in Gunnedah Shire, and we are proud of how far we have managed to come during that time. We are also proud of the resilience and community spirit that helped us achieve so much.”

The total capital works program for 2021-22 had a value in excess of $88 million, with projects including work towards the saleyards redevelopment, the Gunnedah Koala Sanctuary, Orange Grove Bridge and the new water treatment plant.

Fast Facts from the 2021-22 Gunnedah Shire Council Annual Report:

• $24,506.22 was awarded under the Section 356 Community Small Grants Program to nine community organisations
• $19,734.55 was awarded under the Section 356 Sports Small Grants Program to seven groups
• 24,046 users visited the Council website
• 11,744 social support hours were delivered for GoCo clients
• 144,048km were travelled for GoCo Community Transport clients
• 80,112 documents were registered into Council’s Records Management System
• There were 10,400 walk-in visitors to the Visitor Information Centre
• 42 local businesses received Business Partner Program funding
• $42,000 was allocated to local businesses via the Business Partner Program
• 143 development applications worth more than $39 million were lodged with Council for assessment
• There were 50,293 visits to Gunnedah Shire Library
• 10,110 tonnes of domestic waste were received at the Gunnedah Waste Facility

Caption: Blackjack Camera Club was one of a number of community groups that received a grant under the 356 Community Small Grants Program. Pictured are Deputy Mayor Rob Hooke and Blackjack Camera Club member Marg Carr.

ENDS

For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Communications team on (02) 6740 2100.